Method of and means for reducing, straightening, and winding wire



Nov; 20, 1923. n,474,77s

C. JOHNSON ET AL METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR REDUCING, STRAIGHTENING, ANDWINDING WIRE Filed April 10 1920 15:04:22 617? Cazzcx 0. :70/9/20'0/2Patented Nov. 20, 1923.

FATE

CHARLES O. JOHNSON, CHARLES D. JOHNSON, AND BERNARD A, JOHNSON, OFWORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS TO WORCESTER WIRE WORKS, INC.,

A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR REDUCING, STRAIGHTENING, AND WINDING WIRE.

Application filed April 10, 1920. Serial No. 372,992.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES O. JOHNSON, (hr-muss I). JOHNSON, andBERNARD A. JOHNSON, citizens of the United States, all

residing at \Vorcester, in the county of Worcester and State ofMassachusetts, have invented a new and useful Methodof and Means for,Reducing, Straightening, and Winding Wire, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for reducing,straightening very fine wire and then coiling it on the usual Heretoforewhen passing wire through a pin straightener and winding it on the usual.conical block there was necessarily reduction in the drag on the wireas it passed through the straightener. 'This prevented 20 the fullutilization of the block because, on account of the inadequate tension,the wire would not run up to the top of the block and .it was necessaryto stop the operation frequently to take it ofi' and start over. This,25 results in the loss of considerable time.

ables us to continue the operation, without stopping, about three timesas-long as heretofore.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is aside view, partly diagrammatical, of a part of a wire drawingand'straightening machine with a preferred form of this inventionapplied thereto, and

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary planofthe same.

In the drawings we have shown the final draw-head of an-ordinarycontinuous wire drawing machine, the last die holder 11 and the rotarycarrier 12 to which the wire is taken from the die, and which ulls itthrough it. These parts, as well as t e ordinary winding block 15 areoperated in any desired way,- as for exam le, by shaft 18 connectedgearing, and a It on a pair of pulleys 16 and 17.

From the carrier 12 the wire passes to a pin straightener 13 whichstraightens the wire in a well known way as it passes through it to theblock. The wire is drawn through the die under considerable tension, butthe straightener cannot be so designed as to retain all the tension,because the wire would not stand it while in the act of being bentaround the pins. The tension on the wire,- therefore, is relieved as thewire is passed through the straightener. The slight ten sion created bythe friction of the straightener'is insuflicient to wind the wiresatisfactorily on the druni. Instead of passing the wire direct-1y tothe block, we provide, between the straightener and the block, arotatable grooved tension Wheel 20 to increase the, tension on the wirebetween the device for tension adjustment and the drum. This idler isshown as mounted on a stationary shaft or stud 21 fixed in anyconvenient position on the machine, and on the two sides of this wheelare a pair of large leather discs 22 for creating friction. One of thesediscs rests against a supporting bracket 23 and the other against ametallic plate 24 which is longitudinally movable on the shaft or stud21. It is provided with a central recess in which is located the end ofa spring 26. This spring is centered on the stud 21 and extends upwardlyto a washer 27. An adjusting nut 28 and locking nut 29 are shown foradjusting the tension of the spring and holding it in adjustedpositions.

The wire, as shown, passes in the usual way to the straightener andthen, preferably once, around the tension wheel 20. The act of drawingthe wire through the straightener does not produce suflicient tensionfor coiling the wire on the drum and this insuf ficient tension iscompensated for by the tension device. The spring is adjusted un- .tilit imparts just enough pressure to the leather or other friction discsto retard the wire as it passes over and around this wheel so that itwill wind satisfactorily.

The wire in going through the straightener should not have tension atboth ends, but only the pulling tension-in drawingit through thestraightener, because the very object sought to be accomplished wouldthen be defeated so that the tension on the wire between the carrier andthe straightener is not more than it would be if it was on a loose reel.The tension on the wire is not increased as it emerges from thestraightener, but it is increased between the adjustable idler, and thedrum. The object of this is to have the coil form better by having anincreased tension on the wire when it is wound around the drum. The actof pulling the wire through the straightener does not furnish sufficienttension for thatpurse. It will be understood that the block 15, asusual, is positively driven and draws the wire through the straightener.The effect of the retarding action of the idler wheel 20 is to keep thewire uniformly taut between this wheel and the block.

With this arrangment the tension on the wire as it passes to the blockis regulated so that'it is uniform and sufficient, and we find practicethat we can wind the wire clear to the top of the ordinary blockpractically all the tlme. This'reduces the number of stops, and the timelost, from to 70 per cent.

Although this invention can be used independently we prefer to use it inconnection with the method and apparatus for drawing and straighteningwire, set forth in the United States Patent No. 1,338,453,

Serial No. 292,089, filed April 23, 1919, and

we have shown it in connection with that apparatus.

Although we have illustrated and described only a single form of theinvention and shown it as applied to a particular type of wire drawingand straightening machine,

we are aware of the fact that'modifi'cations can be made, and that theinvention can be applied to other types of wire strai htening machinerywithout departing from t e scope of the invention as expressed in theclaims. Therefore we do not wish to be limited in these respects, butwhat we do claim is 1. In an apparatus for straightening and windingfine wire, the combination with a "wire straightener and a block onwhich the wire is wound therefrom, of a grooved wheel located inposition to receive the wire from the straightener and deliver it to theblock, a

stationar shaft on which the wheel is free- 1y 'rotata lo, a pair ofleather discs on said shaft, one bearing on either side of said wheel,and means for constantly holding said discs yieldingly against thewheel. 7

2. The method of reducing, straightening and winding fine wire in onecontinuous operation, WhlCh consists in passing the wire from a die to apin straightener, and then to a winding block and applying a resistanceto the wire between the straightener and block to keep the wireuniformly taut as it passes to the block.

die to a carrier, then to a pin straightener,

and then to a winding block, releasing the tension on the wire betweenthe carrier and the straightener, and applying a resistance to the wirebetween the straightener and block to keep the wire uniformly taut as itpasses to the block.

5. In an apparatus for tensioning wire, the combination of a groovedwheel for receiving the wire to be tensioned, a stationary shaft onwhich the wheel is freely rotatable, a leather discon' said shaftbearing on the side of the wheel to supply tension, means located onsaid shaft for constantly holdin said disc yieldingly against the wheel,an means on' the opposite side of the wheel for creating frictionthereon.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto.

aflixed our signatures.

CHARLES O. JOHNSON. CHARLES D. JOHNSON. BERNARD A. JOHNSON.

tener and block to keep the wire uni-'

